@pimkmoonk The link(s) is in my post above yours. The doors were most difficult for me. Yes do not tape door panels. I needed extra hands to get them to fit. Alone, I would get one side in and then while inserting the other side, the first side would pop out.

Since my HF Greenhouse will be 5 years old this year, I thought I would update this thread on how its holding up. I cleaned the outside of the Gh and got a good look. In a nutshell, it's doing GREAT! It's fully functioning, no wobble or leaning. I am having trouble with some of the blog suggestions I used.

Taping the bottom holes (which tool a LONG time btw) didn't seem to help keep algae from growing within the panels. Where the tape did not seal securely it got wet inside and then algae. Some of the tape has come off on a few panels and there is lots of algae towards the bottom of the panels even where the tape stuck. This doesn't affect anything. It's just cosmetic. I might have use to thin of a piece of aluminum tape for the start? What did affect my panels is the hail damage. That is the only explanation I have for multiple random holes on one side of the GH. It only penetrated one side. I am thinking of injecting some algaecide into the holes to get rid of some algae if it gets bad...or not. Again, only cosmetic.

I do have a hole in one window panel. From a falling branch maybe?? It was recent as there is no algae near it. I might use some vinyl tape over it...or not. The GH has never been water sealed anyway. Not sure if it matters? all the windows are operating perfectly as they did on Day One.

I had to add some more insulation around the roof perimeter as the backer rod did not stay in place due to the panels lifting. I upgraded to expanding foam insulation this winter. At $1/foot it was expensive but it works like a charm as the spaces had gotten wider over time. Seems like the longer panels torqued some and the clips did not hold them flat. Next time (Next time???) I will get an extra set of clips and use them well.

The horizontal support rods on the interior worked but I have trouble with one. The "L" bracket keeps failing. I am careful not to hang too many pots on that support rod. But it seemed 2 hanging ferns were too much for it. I will have to replae the bracket this year. The GH still sits square,though.

My decking underneath has rotted in places. DH was talking about lifting the GH, moving it to the side to make the repair. Crazy man!! I will remove the rubber flooring and we can slide a new deck board underneath the GH. We knew rotting was a possibility when we built it onto wood. And we will be dealing with it soon. Already I piece-repaired the 4 boards by the doors. The sprinkler kept hitting that part of the floor and it rotted. Even the joists were rotting. I put some stabilizer on it and sistered the joists. I hope that works.

I keep the doors well oiled so that they slide nicely. Never a problem with the doors.

I Beta tested the drain pieces added on to the gutters on the corners. I do like them very much as it keeps rain water from dripping on to the building itself.

I still highly recommend this GH using the blog suggestions as needed to enhance it. My only real problem with it is that I think it is shrinking! Every year, I have less and less space for my plants.

I admire your spunk and tenacity! I remember following your progress constructing your greenhouse a few years ago. I've continued to put up our temporary hoophouses each fall. 'Always griping that its the last year for it!

Hahaha Well it was out of pure need to get plants out of the garage. Guess what? There are plants in the garage again, now! I might have to re-erect my hoop house again for the overflow next year!!

I had one good solid "No More Plants" year in 2016. After that, IDK what happened???

Actually we've thought about getting the $199 6' x 8' HF Greenhouse and attaching it somehow to the 10'x12'. But even thinking about building that makes me tired!!

Cheryl, why not consider putting up a shade-house connected to the existing greenhouse, rather than adding another greenhouse? I don't know about you, but my greenhouses in Mississippi were completely uninhabitable by May due to the heat. All they were good for was rooting plumeria cuttings and growing some succulents.

My shadehouse here in Vero Beach is actually a metal-framed, HF car canopy. I've never used the canopy though, since I am growing orchids in the structure. I use shade-cloth instead. You can always wrap the sides (and use the canopy) if you wanted to use the structure during the really cold months. It is 10x20'.

@DrDawg I think even that shadehouse is a bit too permanent for us. The GH sits empty for 9 months out of the year. Another empty structure would just be in the way. And Lord knows I already have battles with excess shade in my yard. BUT! You got me thinking on adding on a temporary structure to the GH, that way it would share the heat in the winter. Maybe a hoophouse like @Bubbles with my pvc pipe. I used to have one on the side of the house. Except for the cover, I have all the parts.Add that new project to the list!

Projects are good to have, Cheryl. I'm basically never without one.

Just discovered this site. Looks like a lot of knowledge on these pages.
Anyway....I have a HF 10x12 GH. Bought/built it last summer. It survived the Wisconsin winter, at times with a foot or more of snow on roof. I did the normal mods like tape ends of panels, secure center of panels with screws, etc.
I built my own doors out of Miratec boards (super weatherproof). The doors are 2 swing out doors, dutch style. Used the panels supplied with original sliding doors. Floor consists of treated deck boards.
I supported GH with 2x4 framing for walls and 2x4 truss style roof which supports roof width wise and length wise, hence no worry about snow load.
I'm using it as a multi-purpose structure and will post more about that later.
I

Would love to see photos of your improvements on your GH .

I'll have to figure out how to post pics on here.
Over the winter I was using the GH to store firewood. I had about 10 portable racks that can be moved with a 2-wheel cart. No danger of stacks of wood falling and damaging poly panels. What's nice is that it takes only about 2 days of sun in GH to dry wet wood.
Then this past March I used the GH as my sugar shack for making maple syrup. Evaporator was outside of course but in between adding sap to pan and firing up wood stove I could sit in GH. Nice and warm, easy chair, Alexa with a timer (nap time) and Sirius music. I ended up with 37 quarts from 20 taps.


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Wow @Fins59 The greenhouse sure is useful to you. And that is a lot of wood AND syrup! I have chairs in my gh in the summer when it is not in use and is shady. On some days it is actually cool enough to sit inside! LOL IN the summer it is basically used to store potting soil and gardening supplies. Oh, and my patio cushions when it rains. It is jammed packed full of plants for winter protection starting in November.

I'm thinking of getting one to use for my cacti and succulents. My dome greenhouse is too full, and I'd like to get the cacti and succulents out of the house. I have them under lights and they're doing fine, but a greenhouse would be nicer. I see they are on sale right now.

This will be the first spring and full summer in my greenhouse. On the rare few warm days we've had here this spring, temps have hit 127F. I'm thinking of removing side panels. A few or all of them. Leave the roof on of course and maybe just leave corner panels on to make it look better. It takes about a minute to remove a panel. I'll number them to make sure each one goes back in same space so the small machine bolts line up. Another option would be to make screen panels and snap them in place of the panel for the summer.

On the roof vents......I haven't read all the pages on this site so maybe someone has already done this.....but what I have done is attach an extension to the existing handles so I can reach and open and close the vents while standing on GH floor. I use a 1"x1" strip of wood 32" long.

Plant Manager - You may already know this but just in case - do the math. (if you're talking a HF greenhouse.)
When I bought my greenhouse at HF it was on sale for $599.99 with coupon. (reg price $699.00).
But with the 20% coupon price taken off of $699.00, cost came to $559.00, a savings of $40 over the "sale price".

The sale you're talking about may be different than mine was but just to be aware that sometimes the 20% coupon is a better deal than their sale price.

Yes, and once a year or so there will be a 50% off coupon! I'm not in any rush so I'm waiting.

plantmanager said:Yes, and once a year or so there will be a 50% off coupon! I'm not in any rush so I'm waiting.

@plantmanager 50% off is a LOT!! Please tell me when you see it. I only see 25% off during various holidays. I need a vice, and a new chainsaw, and a this and a that...

ShadyGreenThumb said:

@plantmanager 50% off is a LOT!! Please tell me when you see it. I only see 25% off during various holidays. I need a vice, and a new chainsaw, and a this and a that...

I will! My husband also has a long list just waiting for that big coupon.

Been busy in the GH this time of year and am still trying to make it "user friendly". Got the double door latches figured out, made a nice ramp, can open and close roof vents easily. This is my first Spring in the GH and am finding here in Wisconsin even in early May it's too hot during the day. So what I'm doing is leaving doors open and removing rear center panel each morning. I found out quickly that working with those panel clips morning and evening even on one panel is a pain. So I cut a couple of wood trim strips (23" long give or take) and wedge them (horizontally) between the two aluminum supports and that holds the panel just fine. Quick and easy.

I bet with a little thought and tweaking a guy could use something like those strips (vertically or horizontally) to fasten those panels easily with no clips. Have to attach the strips with hooks or snaps though to counter the wood strips contracting and expanding with temperature. Maybe someone here already has done this???

You might want to make a screen door. I found that when I left mine open I had ground squirrels and mice invading and eating my plants. My greenhouse has been up to 103 F with no plant damage, but it does get to be too hot for me to be in there.

I built dutch doors for he GH and usually have the bottom ones closed and the top ones open. Works good. I have some stone walls within feet of the GH with openings between stones so see a lot of chipmunks and mice living in those openings so these doors work well. But with that rear panel removed they can get in there. I could always make a short screen panel to put there. But when it warms up here I might take most of the panels off anyway.

This morning it was 42 degrees and now at 11 am its 51 so it's a cold day.

This morning my friend and I went to a Master Gardeners sale and visited the outdoor farmers market. Vendors selling hot coffee there were busy.